or, perhaps Olive the Woolly Blogger…

O2B @ IFTD

I’ve been getting a lot of emails from the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) recently, reminding me of the forthcoming International Fly Fishing Tackle Dealers (IFTD) tradeshow in Denver (which starts on September 11th). How I got on the mailing list might seem curious to many, but it all stems from series of correspondence emails I had a few years ago with then-President, Robert Ramsay. Mr. Ramsay was gracious enough to preview my kids fly fishing books and offer some good words to use as a promotional blurb. Since then I’ve been the recipient of all emails pertaining to all AFFTA happenings. It’s kinda neat to feel like an “insider”, even though I am not.

Many folks who I “know” (in the way that becoming Facebook Friends, Twitter followers and blog comrades constitutes “knowing” someone) are going to Denver for the IFTD, and several have asked if I was planning to be there as well. I wish I was because it would be a tremendous venue for meeting many of these people face-to-face, networking and rubbing elbows with people in the industry that may not already know about Olive the woolly bugger. My goal, a lofty one at that, is to make sure that every single person in the fly fishing industry learns about Olive. Beyond that I want everyone who is a customer of those businesses in the fly fishing industry to know about Olive. And of course I want parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and everyone else in the world to know about Olive the woolly bugger.

Aside from the chance to have a booth and hob knob with like-minded fly fishing professionals, there are exciting things I’ll be missing at the show, including these specials.

Redington will be at the show, and Redington is a friend of Olive. When you purchase one of the Redington Minnow Fly Fishing Outfits for kids, you receive a coupon for ordering all three Olive books at half price. That’s a great way to get kids interested in fly fishing.

As an author, I’m particularly interested in anything pertaining to the book business. One of the distributors of the Olive the woolly bugger series of books is Angler’s Book Supply. They handle all distribution in the West, and have been great business partners, believing in Olive since her inception. Angler’s Book Supply is offering a very enticing show special:

Orders placed at the show will enjoy an extra 10% discount and an additional 30 days dating. For orders of 20+ units that’s 50% discount and FREE FREIGHT with 60-day dating. You must visit our booth to qualify. No splits or delayed shipping allowed.

That sounds pretty good to me, so if you’re a fly shop owner looking to add Olive the Little Woolly Bugger, Olive and The Big Stream, and Olive Goes for a Wild Ride to your inventory, now would be a great time to contact Angler’s Book Supply.

I see from the list of Exhibitors that a few book publishers are planning to be present as well. Unfortunately I don’t see the publisher of the Olive books listed. I’m a little surprised and disappointed that Big Earth Publishing won’t be an exhibitor. After all, they have offices are in Boulder which is really close Denver, so logistically it wouldn’t be too difficult. But more important than proximity to the show is the fact that Big Earth has a good list of fly fishing books in addition to all three Olive books (which are all, by the way, in the publisher’s Top Ten Bestsellers List!). The following titles are all available from Big Earth, so check them out:

• A Kid’s Guide to Fly Fishing by Tyler Befus• A Kids’s Guide to Fly Tying by Tyler Befus• Breakfast at Trout’s Place by Ken Marsh• Carp On the Fly by Barry Reynolds, Brad Befus, & John Berryman• Fly Fishing with Barry Reynolds: From Bass to Walleye by Barry Reynolds• Poul Jorgensen’s Book of Fly Tying by Poul Jorgensen• River Girls by Cecilia “Pudge” Kleinkauf• The Blood Knot by John Galligan• The Cinch Knot by John Galligan• The Nail Knot by John Galligan• Olive the Little Woolly Bugger by Kirk Werner• Olive and the Big Stream by Kirk Werner• Olive Goes for a Wild Ride by Kirk Werner

Maybe next year Big Earth Publishing will be at the IFTD show in Denver. Hopefully I will, too. If you’re one of the lucky folks going this year be sure to check out the IFTD Social Media Lounge. Kyle Perkins, of the Compleat Thought will be manning the booth where those in the fly fishing industry can learn about the new media and social outreach possibilities available. Kyle also generously agreed to have some info on hand about Olive so grab a handout while you’re there.

And speaking of social media, in addition to this blog and website, Olive can also be found on Facebook and Twitter: